West DSM News

New data out of Iowa showed 50% of Des Moines Register poll respondents say the Jan. 6 Capitol events were an insurrection and a threat to democracy.

The results caused some response on social media. "So this poll tells me half of all Iowans are delusional and are OK with fascism and racism turning our country into an autocratic dictatorship," tweeted ChattJazz on Nov. 22.

The sample size was small, and the margin of error was plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

In the poll, conducted by the Des Moines Register and Mediacom Iowa, respondents were asked a series of questions including, “When it comes to the events on Jan. 6, when a crowd entered the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., and disrupted the election certification process, which of the following best reflects your thoughts?"

Respondents chose between: labeling it an insurrection and threat to our democracy, classifying it as an unfortunate past event, citing it as a political protest protected under the First Amendment or choosing none of the above or not sure. 

According to results, 50% of those polled called it an insurrection, 22% claimed the event was a one time thing with no need for worry, while 18% believed the actions were protected. Small numbers checked none of the above (5%) or not sure (4%).

The responses to the poll were quite disparate, depending on the respondent's political affiliation. Among the 810 residents surveyed Nov. 7-10, 93% of those who identified themselves as Democrats said they would classify the riot as an insurrection and an act that could have undermined our political system; 50% who identified as Independent and 20% of those who claimed they were Republicans selected that description of the day's activities.

Party affiliation wasn’t the only thing separating respondents. The Des Moines Register reports 63% of respondents with a college or graduate degree viewed what happened as an insurrection, while 44% of those without a degree held the same opinion.